Digging in: Children practice their swing during a golf lesson in Jakarta. (JP/Ika Krismantari)

The Senayan Golf Driving Range is a giant classroom for five-year-olds Saskeanna Lauria Utomo and Denzel Adibrata. The size of the “room”, however, does not hamper the two children from listening attentively to the words of their coach, Tony Blacker, who they call Mr. Tony.

“What are the basic rules?” asked Blacker, the head coach of the Aserra Golf Academy, before starting practice.

Sitting on small benches next to other students of the same age, Saskeanna and Denzel raced to answer the question, waving their hands and showing their excitement despite the unusually hot weather that afternoon.

“No fighting,” answered Saskeanna. “No kicking,” said another student. Denzel shouted “Behave well.”

Those simple answers were enough to put a smile on the coach’s face, and after a couple of warm-up sets, the young golfers took their spots and started practicing their moves, hitting 50 balls with their colorful mini golf clubs under Mr. Tony’s guidance.

The spirit of little Saskeanna and Denzel at the golf course represents the growing enthusiasm of the younger generation toward the sport in the country.

Indonesians used to believe that golf was only for older people, but the increasing popularity of the game in the country has encouraged the younger generation — even children — to play, debunking the old belief.

Blacker says he is currently coaching more than 100 children, his youngest student just two years old.

On the green: A golf instructor coaches his young students about proper form at the Senayan Golf Driving Range in Jakarta. (JP/Ika Krismantari)Nationwide, the Indonesian Golf Association (PGI) has listed at least 700 junior golfers below 18 years of age on their membership roster, more than a tenfold increase compared to 15 years ago.

Another indicator of the growing interest in the sport by youth is the emergence of new golf academies in Indonesia. And, a number of world-class golf training facilities have expanded to Jakarta to tap into the market. Those institutions include the prestigious David Leadbetter Golf Academy and the Junior Players Golf Academy, which claims to be the largest in Asia. Both opened earlier this year.

Based on several interviews, most of the young players admit that they were lured to the game by their parents.

Seventeen-year-old Viditarisa Sasongko says he was influenced by his father to play.

“My father told me to go with him to play golf,” said the boy, recalling his first experience golfing in 2008. Then, through his own volition, Vidi decided to study golf seriously in 2009 and since then has participated in a number of golf competitions, both local and abroad.

“I want to be a pro,” he exclaimed.

Blacker admitted that famous figures like Tiger Woods and Rory Mcllroy are also reasons young people have been attracted to golf. He referred to local hero Rory Hie, who has become a source of inspiration for his students.

Passionate: Australian Tony Blacker speaks to Jakarta’s newest golfers. Their parents say the sport fosters discipline as well as providing health benefits. (JP/Ika Krismantari)“Young kids aspire to be professional people … [They think] ‘Hey I want to be like Rory Hie!’ … All these things add up to the growth of the game,” said the coach with 16 years experience teaching children.

But golf offers more than just physical benefits, fame or fortune for children, according to both parents and teachers. The sport with its rules and code of conduct is believed to also have a positive influence on children socially and mentally.

“Golf is not only about technique, but also rules, honor and discipline,” said Pondok Indah Golf general manager Budi Kosasih, who is also in charge of the Pondok Indah Golf Academy.

The game’s positive impact is one of the reasons 32-year-old Sytra Natasha takes her daughter Saskeanna to golf lessons.

“I want to see her learn how to interact with her surroundings,” Sytra said.

But more than that, the woman’s biggest dream for Saskeanna is to see her become a professional golfer, and because of that Sytra enrolled Saskeanna in the Aserra Golf Academy in Senayan at the tender age of five.

“It is easier to learn the technique when you are young. I feel it myself. As a person who started late golf is very difficult for me,” confessed the woman, who started playing golf just four months ago.

However, long before Saskeanna can live up to her mother’s dream, much improvement is required in the development of junior golfers in Indonesia

PGI deputy head of junior development Nia Adriana admitted that Indonesia is still lagging compared to other countries.

“Thailand with a smaller population has more young golfers than us,” she said.

Indonesia with its 240 million citizens has produced less than 1,000 junior golfers, while Thailand, a country of 50 million, has more than 3,000 young talents in golf.

The main problem, according to Nia, is the lack of regular golf competitions in the country.

“Competitions are needed to incite skill enhancement,” Nia said.

Therefore, the organization has tried to organize more golf tournaments, forming partnerships with golf clubs, local governments and sponsorships apart from improving the quality of training for young golfers, who are the future of the game.

But coaching young people, especially children, is not as easy as it looks. The nature of golf, which requires players to stay focused for hours, has made the sport extremely difficult for the younger generation to enjoy.

Yessy Yovita of the Pondok Indah Golf Academy said it is not uncommon to see children suddenly start crying in the middle of practice. Blacker has experienced the same, blaming it on children’s unpredictable mood swings.

“Teaching children is very challenging, however on the flip side it is more rewarding,” the former professional golfer said.

Yet, his rewards are not in the form of money or recognition, he explains. The reward is the children’s laughter while enjoying an afternoon lesson; their lively attempts to hit the balls as hard as possible; their burning desire to go pro; and their exciting and unpredictable responses, including the one given by Denzel when asked why he wanted to learn how to golf.

“I want to be like Tiger Woods,” the little one answered.

Priceless indeed.